PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Gracie Jr (ranked 1061 p4p, 52 weight class) and Ricardo Rasgado (ranked 1861 p4p, 94 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gracie Jr
vs
Rasgado

163 cm
26
141 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

171 cm
26
137 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nick Gracie Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ricardo Rasgado!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie Jr walks into a stiff left hand from Rasgado.
Gracie Jr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rasgado scores with a nice strike.

Rasgado clinches up with Gracie Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Come on Gracie Jr - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gracie Jr looking to stall.
Gracie Jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie Jr fails to pull guard.
Rasgado softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rasgado misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasgado throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie Jr.
Rasgado lands with a right to the head.
Rasgado throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie Jr.
Gracie Jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Gracie Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie Jr manages to break the clinch.
Gracie Jr has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Yaw-Yan Ardigma in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Rasgado.
Rasgado's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gracie Jr under the eye.

It looks like Nick Gracie Jr has been cut.
Gracie Jr misses with a looping left.
Gracie Jr takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Rasgado closes the distance and clinches.
Rasgado scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie Jr has Rasgado pressed against the cage.
Gracie Jr stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rasgado softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rasgado lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rasgado throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie Jr.
A bit of stalling here from Rasgado.
Rasgado lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rasgado working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Jr controlling the action here for a moment.
Gracie Jr is stalling here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gracie Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rasgado swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rasgado lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rasgado lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rasgado misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rasgado misses with some punches.
Gracie Jr is trying to pull guard but Rasgado turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie Jr looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Jr is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rasgado.
Rasgado lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gracie Jr is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Gracie Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gracie Jr misses with a takedown
and Rasgado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie Jr takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gracie Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rasgado manages to avoid it.
Rasgado looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rasgado works Gracie Jr's body with a nice hook.
Gracie Jr takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Jr takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've been informed that Rasgado has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rasgado darts in and clinches Gracie Jr up against the cage.
Rasgado misses with the head strike.
Rasgado lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie Jr backwards.
Gracie Jr has Rasgado pushed against the cage.
Rasgado scores with a shot to the side of Gracie Jr's head.
A short right from Rasgado.
A head punch on the inside from Rasgado fails to land.
Rasgado lands with a right to the head.
Gracie Jr content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rasgado lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gracie Jr avoiding damage.
Gracie Jr displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rasgado up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rasgado dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Gracie Jr's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rasgado throws a lazy uppercut

and Gracie Jr counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rasgado!
Rasgado is looking for a sweep.
Rasgado is not content to let Gracie Jr control the position.
Rasgado is trying to improve his position.
Rasgado wants to control but Gracie Jr postures up.

Gracie Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie Jr wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rasgado, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie Jr throws an elbow but Rasgado slips to the side and avoids it well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rasgado can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasgado is trying to control Gracie Jr's posture but Gracie Jr avoids it.

Gracie Jr tries for a kimura but Rasgado is defending well.
Gracie Jr trying to control the position but Rasgado is working away.
Rasgado is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie Jr trying to control the position but Rasgado is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasgado is trying to escape the position but Gracie Jr is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Gracie Jr tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rasgado is trying to control Gracie Jr's posture but Gracie Jr avoids it.
Rasgado really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie Jr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gracie Jr tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie Jr has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rasgado is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie Jr keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rasgado keeps trying to improve his position.
Rasgado is trying to control Gracie Jr's posture but Gracie Jr avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasgado is letting Gracie Jr control him for a moment.
Rasgado tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rasgado is not content to let Gracie Jr control the position.
Nick Gracie Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie Jr tries for a kimura but Rasgado is defending well.

Gracie Jr looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Gracie Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie Jr is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rasgado is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie Jr tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie Jr trying to control the action but Rasgado is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie Jr is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rasgado knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Gracie Jr dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nick Gracie Jr's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rasgado throws a lazy right hand but Gracie Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie Jr throws an overhand right that lands on Rasgado's shoulder, as Rasgado tries to avoid the shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rasgado! But no joy.
Rasgado throws out a loose jab but Gracie Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie Jr swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Rasgado to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie Jr jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rasgado catches Gracie Jr with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rasgado cracks Gracie Jr with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rasgado throws a shot from downtown. Gracie Jr moves away and avoids it.
Rasgado looks to land a left hand but Gracie Jr moved out of range nicely.
Gracie Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Rasgado is quick to defend against it.
Rasgado has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rasgado swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Rasgado is just out of range.
Rasgado tries to clinch but Gracie Jr is having none of it.
Gracie Jr misses with a shot to the body
and Rasgado counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rasgado misses with an uppercut.
Gracie Jr attempts a counter takedown but Rasgado avoids it well and moves away.
Gracie Jr throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie Jr gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rasgado connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A slow jab from Gracie Jr misses its intended target.
Rasgado stuns Gracie Jr with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rasgado punishes Gracie Jr's body with a nice straight punch.
A big right from Rasgado misses.
Rasgado avoids the body shot from Gracie Jr.
Rasgado lands with a cross.
Gracie Jr takes a swing at Rasgado's ribcage but misses.
Rasgado scores with a nice right hand.
Rasgado throws a hook but Gracie Jr blocks it.
Gracie Jr is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Rasgado's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gracie Jr shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rasgado but Rasgado pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rasgado throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie Jr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Jr steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rasgado.
Gracie Jr ducks under a wild hook from Rasgado.
Ricardo Rasgado seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie Jr swings widly with a right hand
enabling Rasgado to counter with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Rasgado finds it's way through Gracie Jr's defenses.

Gracie Jr decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie Jr trying to pass the guard but Rasgado defending well.

Gracie Jr looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rasgado is looking to improve his position.
Rasgado wants to control but Gracie Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie Jr is taking a breather. Rasgado says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rasgado is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie Jr trying to control from half guard but Rasgado is working away.
Gracie Jr thows a huge punch but Rasgado dodges it nicely.

Gracie Jr is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gracie Jr seems to be working for a kimura but Rasgado defends the submission attempt.
Rasgado has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rasgado is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rasgado trying to control from the bottom.
Rasgado is looking to improve his position.
Rasgado is in trouble now - Gracie Jr has advanced to mount!
Gracie Jr controlling his opponent.
Gracie Jr misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Gracie Jr is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rasgado has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gracie Jr wants to take Rasgado's back but he can't do it this time.

Gracie Jr has isolated one of Rasgado's arms. Rasgado looking to fight him off but Gracie Jr twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nick Gracie Jr!